official is now answered by the governor (apparently at the beginning of July).  He blames the Portuguese of Macao for not having delivered the letters to Chinese officials which he wrote after the Sangley insurrection of 1603; and claims that the Chinese slain therein were themselves to blame for their deaths.  To maintain this position, he cites the kindness with which the Chinese in the islands were treated by the Spaniards; and declares that they revolted without provocation, and killed or abused many Spaniards and Indians, and that the survivors were punished with great leniency.  He sends a part of the money due to Chinese merchants who owned property in the islands, and promises to send the rest next year.  A letter from one of the auditors at Manila informs the king that the number of Chinese allowed to remain there is now (1605) restricted to one thousand five hundred.

Letters from Acuna (July 1-15) to the king give his usual yearly report of affairs.  Reenforcements of troops have arrived from Mexico, very opportunely for the expedition which Acuna is preparing for the recovery of Ternate.  He details these preparations, and the condition of his troops and ships.  He complains of the opposition which he has encountered from the archbishop and the auditor Maldonado.  Various private persons have volunteered to go with him, carrying their own provisions.  He plans to leave Panay in February, 1606; and has been informed that the Dutch are preparing a large fleet to drive the Spaniards from the Maluco Islands, and to establish themselves more firmly there than before.  Acuna needs more money, to pay his troops in the Maluco campaign; he asks for further supplies, urges the desirability of cutting off the Dutch from their treasury of the Spice Islands, and recommends a vigorous prosecution of hostilities against them.  He recommends better adjustment of the soldiers’ pay.  In another letter Acuna reports the failure of this year’s trading voyage to Mexico, one of the ships being compelled to return to port and the other being probably lost—­which causes the utmost distress and poverty in the islands.  Acuna relates the non-residence in the islands of Gabriel de Ribera, in consequence of which his encomiendas have been taken from him and given to others.  The Moro pirates are apparently disposed to make peace, so Acuna is discussing this with them; but he has little confidence in their promises, except as he can inspire them with fear.  The difficulties arising from the slaughter of the Chinese in their revolt of 1603 have been a source of much anxiety to the Spaniards; but these are in a fair way to be settled.  The fiscal, Salazar y Salcedo, has died; and the Audiencia has appointed temporarily to that post Rodrigo Diaz Guiral, whom Acuna highly commends.  The governor complains that the archbishop has been meddling with his appointments of chaplains for the galleys.  He also asks for money to maintain galleys for the defence of the islands.  In a third letter Acuna complains of the unjust and tyrannical conduct of the auditor Maldonado, and asks for redress from the king.  This evil conduct has been especially noticeable in Maldonado’s efforts to secure the hand and property of a wealthy minor heiress.